STACK 
ANNEX 


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Msxlco 

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Guatemala 
Missions 


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PEN  PICTURES 

of  the 

MEXICO  AND  GUATEMALA 
MISSIONS 


THE     BOARD     OF     FOREIGN     MISSIONS 
Department  for  Specific  Work 


THE     WOMAN'S    BOARD     OF     FOREIGN     MISSIONS 


OF   THE    PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH  IN  THE    U.  S.  A. 
156  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  Citv 


Pen  Picture 

of  the 

Mexico  Mission 

Establishment 

Tho  woi'k  of  tlic  Presbytej'iaii  I^oard  of  Foreign 
Missions  was  formally  opened  in  1872. 

Stations  in  Order  of  Founding 

Mexico  City 1872  Merida 191.1 

Jalapa 1897  Oaxaca 1919 

Vera  Cruz 1897  Orizaba 1921 

Outstanding  Features 

Tlie  work  of  our  Foreign  Board  nearest  to  the 
United  States. 

The  distinctive  Presl)yterian  field  of  responsi- 
bility in  Mexico  includes  iy4  of  the  entire  popula- 
tion and  Vo  of  the  total  area. 

Two-thirds  of  our  field  lies  within  the  hot  coast 
country,  with  a  coast  line  of  about  2,000  miles  on 
both  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

Woi'k  largely  itinerating  covering  extensive 
teri'itory  and  not  sti'ongly  centralized  but  car- 
ried on  from  various  local  centers. 

Advance  of  work  slow  during  the  last  ten 
years  (1912-1922)  because  of  revolutionary  con- 
ditions in  the  country. 

Establishment  of  free  medical  dispensaries  for 
the  poor. 

Opening  nj)  of  social  work  in  various  centers. 


2055184 


Other  Missions  Operating  in  this  Field 

Presbyterian  Church,  South;  Associated  Re- 
formed Presbyterian ;  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  North  and  South ;  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church ;  Congregational  Church ;  Baptist  Church ; 
The  Friends ;  The  Disciples ;  American  Bible  So- 
ciety; Y.  M.  C.  A. 

Union  Work 

In  1917  a  Union  Theological  Seminary  was 
opened  in  Mexico  City  with  the  cooperation  of 
eight  societies  having  work  in  Mexico. 

In  1919  by  the  merging  of  several  denomina- 
tional presses  and  periodicals  a  union  press  was 
formed  and  a  union  paper  published  called  ''El 
Mnndo  Cristiano"  (The  Christian  World),  and 
also  union  Sunday  school  literature.  The  Pres- 
byterian press  and  periodical  called  "El  Faro" 
(The  Lighthouse),  founded  in  1884,  joined  in  this 
merger. 

Location 

Mexico  is  just  south  of  the  United  States,  across 
the  Rio  Grande  River.  The  boundary  between 
Mexico  and  the  United  States  is  1833  miles  in 
length,  750  miles  of  which  is  the  Rio  Grande 
River  flowing  between  the  two  countries. 

Area 

The  area  of  Mexico  is  767,000  square  miles.  It 
equals  the  area  of  that  part  of  the  United  States 
between  the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Atlantic 
coast,  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 


or  a  little  less  than  that  of  our  five  largest  states, 
— Texas,  California,  Montana,  New  Mexieo  and 
Arizona. 

In  form,  Mexico  is  not  unlike  a  cornucopia 
with  its  narrow  end  tapering  toward  the  south- 
east and  terminating  in  the  Peninsula  of  Yucatan. 
Its  maximum  breadth  west  from  Matamoros  op- 
posite Brownsville,  Texas,  is  about  750  miles. 
Its  minimum  breadth  at  the  Isthmus  of  Tehuan- 
tepec  in  the  southern  part  is  about  100  miles.  An 
ocean-to-ocean  canal  was  at  one  time  proposed  for 
this  Isthmus.  Mexico's  entire  coast  line  is  about 
6,000  miles. 

Climate 

Running  from  north  to  south  along  the  entire 
eastern  and  western  coasts  of  Mexico  are  high 
mountain  ranges.  The  interior  between  these 
mountains  is  a  broad  tableland  more  than  5,000 
feet  above  sea  level.  Mexico  lies  within  the 
tropics  but  an  altitude  of  5,000  feet  or  more 
assures  pleasant  summer  weather  in  any  lati- 
tude. It  is  the  altitude  not  the  latitude  that 
governs  the  climate  of  Mexieo.  The  coast  lands 
are  hot  and  swampy.  The  tableland  has  a  rainy 
season  from  May  to  October.  The  coast  regions 
have  a  rainy  season  throughout  almost  the  entire 
year. 

Earthquakes  are  frequent  and  many  of  them 
are  severe  and  destructive.  Of  the  three  snow- 
capped volcanic  mountains  in  Mexico,  Mt.  Orizaba 
over  18.000  feet  high,  is  the  second  highest  peak 
on  the  North  American  continent. 


Vegetation 

From  its  geographical  position,  eonibiiicd  with 
its  varying  altitudes,  Mexico  possesses  a  greater 
A'ariety  of  soil,  surface  and  vegetation  than  any 
equal  extent  of  territory  in  the  world.  The  vege- 
table products  include  almost  all  that  grow 
between  the  equator  and  the  arctic  regions. 

Mexico  produces  in  abundance  bananas,  cocoa- 
nuts,  coffee,  vanilla  bean,  oranges,  chocolate  bean, 
sugar,  tobacco,  ixtle  fiber.  Many  of  these  are  ex- 
ported. The  products  of  the  tablelands  are  corn, 
wheat,  beans,  chili  and  cotton. 

The  low  tropical  lands  in  the  south  produce 
about  one  hundred  varieties  of  building  and  cab- 
inet wood,  including  mahogany  and  rose  wood. 
At  least  fifty-nine  species  of  medicinal  plants 
have  been  classified. 

Resources 

Mining — Mexico  has  been  called  the  jewel  box 
of  the  world.  It  is  one  of  the  world's  richest 
mining  countries.  Silver,  gold,  iron,  lead  and 
copper  are  plentifiU.  There  are  also  mercury, 
tin,  antimony,  bismuth,  marble  and  precious 
stones,  as  well  as  valuable  deposits  of  coal. 

During  the  three  centuries  of  Spanish  dominion 
(3521 -1821)  silver  to  the  value  of  over  three  bil- 
lion jyesos  (Mexican  dollar  equivalent  to  fifty 
cents)  were  extracted,  almost  one-third  of  which 
came  from  the  wonderful  mother  vein  at  Guana- 
juato. Most  of  this  was  sent  in  a  steady  stream 
of  silver  Spainward.  The  largest  silver  nugget 
found  in  Mexico  weighed  2,750  pounds.     As  a 


large  amount  of  the  silver  mined  is  not  coined 
but  used  in  the  arts,  it  is  estimated  that  Mexico 
has  produced  nearly  one-half  of  the  world's  sil- 
ver mined  in  the  past  four  centuries.  Mining  is 
carried  on  in  24  of  the  31  states  and  territories 
of  Mexico,  nearly  all  of  the  mines  yielding  silvei- 
either  alone  or  in  combination  with  other  ores. 

Oil — Oil  was  discovered  in  Mexico  in  1901. 
Since  then  Mexico  has  become  one  of  the  foremost 
countries  in  oil  production  in  the  world.  Much 
of  the  oil  territory  is  in  the  eastern  part  around 
Tampico.  Most  of  the  wells  have  been  gushers. 
The  largest  well  discovered  produced  a  million 
barrels  a  day  for  five  days.  The  next  well  of 
importance  had  a  capacity  of  260,000  barrels 
every  twenty-four  hours  and  produced  for  sev- 
eral years.  Many  individual  wells  have  produced 
millions  of  barrels  of  oil  during  their  lifetime. 
The  output  for  October,  November  and  December. 
1921.  was  about  50.000.000  barrels  of  oil. 

Ancient  History 

Mexican  civilization  is  kiiowii  to  be  one  of  great 
antiquity.  Mexico  has  a  wealth  of  archeological 
relies,  remnants  of  an  ancient  civilization  of 
which  no  well  defined  trace  exists.  Rock  sculp- 
tures, images,  idols  and  ancient  pottery,  found  in 
numerous  localities,  are  the  only  i-eeords  of  people 
whose  history  is  unknown  and  whose  names  even 
are  lost.  Such  are  the  ancient  pyramids  near 
Mexico  City,  the  Mitla  ruins  in  Oaxaca,  the 
Palenque  ruins  in  Chidpas  and  the  Uxinal  ruins 
in  Yucatan. 


The  earliest  authentic  date  in  Mexican  history 
is  1325  when  the  Aztecs  founded  what  is  now 
Mexico  City.  They  fixed  upon  this  location, 
claiming  it  to  have  been  pointed  to  them  by  a 
sign  from  their  gods.  This  sign,  an  eagle  perched 
upon  a  cactus  strangling  a  serpent,  is  now  the 
coat  of  arms  of  the  Mexican  Republic. 

Spanish  Conquest 

When  the  Pilgrims  landed  on  Plymouth  Rock, 
a  hundred  years  had  already  passed  since  the 
soldiers  of  Cortez  had  battled  with  the  hosts  of 
Montezuma  in  Mexico.  The  landing  of  Hernan- 
dez Cortez  in  1519  at  Vera  Cruz  marked  the 
beginning  of  Spanish  domination  which  lasted  for 
three  centuries.  Their  greed  for  gold  made  them 
bold  adventurers  and  cruel  despots.  They  intro- 
duced Romanism  and  the  country  was  priest 
ridden  for  over  three  centuries,  suffering  from 
all  its  attendant  results  of  superstition,  idolatry 
and  poverty. 

In  1571  the  Tribunal  of  the  Inquisition  was 
formally  established  in  the  City  of  Mexico,  which 
was  the  headquarters  for  the  Inquisitor-General 
appointed  over  Mexico,  Guatemala  and  the  Phil- 
ippine Islands.  Death  by  burning  was  the  pen- 
alty inflicted  upon  those  whose  opinions  were  at 
variance  with  those  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church.  The  first  auto  de  fe  was  effected  in 
Mexico  City  three  years  later  when  21  persons 
perished.  The  Inquisition  was  a  powerful  factor 
in  the  politics  of  Mexico  down  to  the  time  of  its 
final  overthrow  in  1820. 


Mexican  Independence 

Fruin  i^pxiit — In  l.SlO  the  Moxieau.s  began  their 
war  for  freedom  from  Spanish  misrule.  In  1821, 
after  eleven  years  of  struggle,  she  won  her  inde- 
pendence; its  centennial  was  celebrated  in  1921. 

From  Rome;  Separation  of  Church  and  State — 
Estates  worth  at  least  ninety  million  pesos,  moi-e 
than  a  fourth  of  all  the  landed  property  in 
Mexico,  belonged  to  the  Romish  Church.  The 
clergy  were  exempt  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
courts  in  all  eases,  civil  and  criminal.  In  1857 
a  revolution  was  begun  for  religious  freedom  in 
Mexico  and  Benito  Juarez  issued  his  celebrated 
reform  laws  two  years  later,  which  separated 
Church  and  State  and  established  religious  free- 
dom. His  decree  also  nationalized  all  Church 
property  and  dissolved  all  religious  orders.  It 
established  the  law  of  civil  marriage,  freeing  it 
from  restraints  and  expenses  previously  imposed 
upon  it  by  the  clergy.  The  operation  of  the  re- 
form laws  changed  the  country  from  a  priest- 
ridden  to  a  free  nation. 

Peoples  and  Customs 

The  population  is  over  15,000,000,  a  large  pro- 
portion of  which  is  Indian.  In  many  parts  of 
the  country  the  ancient  customs,  superstitions 
and  languages  prevail.  There  are  said  to  exist 
over  180  dialects.  The  Spanish  language  is 
spoken  throughout  Mexico. 

The  native  food  consists  mainly  of  corn,  beans 
and  chili  peppers.     The  corn   is  made  into  flat 

9 


cakes  or  "tortillas,"  tlie   Mexican   staff  of   life. 
Most  of  tlie  cookiii<i'  utensils  are  made  of  clay. 

Many  native  alcoholic  drinks  are  made,  the 
most  common  among  the  poorer  classes  being  the 
^'pulque,"  the  fermented  jnice  of  the  maguey  or 
century  plant.  Prohibition  sentiment  seems  to  be 
growing  throughout  the  Republic.  Restrictive 
measures  are  being  established  in  several  of  the 
states.  President  Obregon's  decree  increasing  the 
tax  on  beer  100  per  cent,  is  intended  to  discourage 
the  manufacture  of  that  drink. 

Education 

The  progress  made  in  education  has  been  very 
marked  within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century. 
Illiteracy  has  been  greatly  decreased.  A  repub- 
lican form  of  government  calls  for  a  good  school 
system  and  our  Mission  schools  have  made  valu- 
able contributions  toAvard  building  up  this  system. 

After  three  centuries  of  complete  domination 
by  Romanism,  when  the  people  were  not  per- 
mitted to  think  nor  to  act  for  themselves,  it  is 
little  wonder  that  the  system  scored  furrows  in 
the  social  fabric  of  Mexico  so  deep  that  a  hundred 
years  of  freedom  and  of  industrial  improvement 
have  not  j^et  wiped  them  out. 

Government 

Mexico  is  a  Republic  consisting  of  27  states, 
3  territories  and  the  Federal  District.  The  consti- 
tution closely  modeled  after  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States  provides  for  legislative,  execu- 
tive and  judicial  branches  and  guarantees  re- 
ligious fi'cedom. 

10 


Early  Days  of  Mission  Work 

XN  1852,  Miss  Melinda  Rankin,  a  Presbyterian, 
who  labored  faithfully  for  twenty  years  among 
the  Mexicans,  began  missionary  work  among  the 
Mexican  people  on  the  border  at  Brownsville,  Texas. 
There  she  started  a  school  that  was  maintained  until 
the  era  of  our  Civil  War.  The  laws  of  Mexico  at  that 
time  positively  prohibited  the  introduction  of  Protes- 
tantism in  any  form.  In  1864  Miss  Rankin  entered 
Matamoros,  Mexico,  opposite  Brownsville,  and  shortly 
afterward  made  her  headtjuarters  at  Monterey,  where 
she  gathered  about  her  a  company  of  teachers  and 
colporteurs.  She  worked  largely  through  others, 
sometimes  having  fifteen  workers  at  a  time.  Miss 
Rankin  also  opened  a  school  in  Monterey  which  was 
later  transferred  to  the  Presbyterian  Board  and  be- 
came our  Girls'  Normal  School  at  Saltillo. 

Soon  after  the  war  of  1846,  Dr.  J.  M.  Prevost,  who 
had  served  as  surgeon  with  the  army,  took  up  his 
abode  in  Zacatecas,  Mexico,  a  mining  district.  While 
accumulating  a  fortune,  he  preached  as  a  layman,  by 
precept  and  example,  a  saving  and  purifying  gospel. 
This  work  became  later  identified  with  our  Presby- 
terian Mission,  Avhen  our  activities  were  formally 
opened  in  Mexico  in  1872.  Our  Board  thus  represents 
the  first  and  oldest  Protestant  missionary  Avork  iu 
Mexico. 

The  war  with  Mexico  opened  the  way  for  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Bible.  At  this  time  an  edition  of  the 
Scriptures  in  Spanish  had  been  issued  in  the  United 
States.  An  agent  of  the  American  Bible  Society  ac- 
companied our  army  and  distributed  many  copies. 
After  the   departure  of  the  Americans   the   Roman 

11 


Catholic  clergy  collected  all  the  copies  of  the  Bible 
they  could  find  and  burned  them.  In  1860,  the  Amer- 
ican Bible  Society  established  an  agency  in  Monterey. 
The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  opened  work 
in  Mexico  City  in  1864.  Great  credit  is  due  the  Bible 
societies  for  their  pioneer  work  in  new  territory. 
These  efforts  often  develop  into  organized  work. 

Mission  Progress 

In  Mexico  Cit}^  a  group  of  independent  Mexican 
Christians  drawn  together  by  a  study  of  the  Bible, 
held  their  own  services.  The  leader  of  this  group  was 
Senor  Arcadio  Morales,  who  became  associated  with 
our  Mission,  and  when  a  little  later  a  Presbyterian 
Church  was  organized,  he  became  its  pastor.  He  has 
completed  over  fifty  years  of  most  active,  consecrated 
and  fruitful  service  in  the  ministry.  The  year  1922 
marks  tlie  semi-centennial  of  Presbyterian  work  in 
Mexico. 

When  the  General  Assembly  in  1872  voted  to  open 
work  in  Mexico,  two  of  the  first  missionaries  sent  out 
were  Rev.  Henry  C.  Thomson,  D.D.,  who  remained  in 
the  country  for  twenty  years  and  did  great  service 
as  pioneer  educator,  and  also  Rev.  Maxwell  Phillips 
who,  during  his  ten  years  in  the  country,  endured 
many  hardships  while  itinerating.  He  opened  up  work 
in  Yucatan.  Rev.  T.  F.  Wallace,  after  sixteen  years 
of  missionary  work  in  Colombia,  South  America, 
came  to  Mexico  in  1878  and  labored  unceasingly  in 
the  northern  part  for  thirty-two  years.  He  carried 
on  an  extensive  evangelistic  work,  beloved  alike  by  all 
who  knew  him,  botli  Mexicans  and  foreigners.  Otliers 
who   did   excellent   pioneer    work   were    Rev.    David 

12 


Stewart  who  itinerated  in  nortliern  Mexico,  Rev.  J. 
Milton  Greene,  D.D.,  who  did  translating  and  teaching 
and  also  founded  the  church  paper,  "El  Faro,"  in 
1884.  Rev.  Hubert  Brown,  D.D.,  was  engaged  in 
-editorial  work  and  teaching.  Rev.  Isaac  Boyce,  D.D., 
itinerated  for  many  years  in  the  hot  coast  states  of 
Vera  Cruz,  Tabasco  and  Yucatan.  Rev.  C.  C.  Millar's 
name  is  closely  associated  with  the  development  of 
the  Coyoacan  Theological  Seminary. 

Persecution — The  steady  progress  made  in  the  or- 
ganization of  churches  and  the  interest  awakened  in 
the  study  of  the  Bible  called  forth  more  or  less  perse- 
cution from  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  and  the  early 
missionaries  were  at  times  greatly  endangered  by  such 
fanaticism.  Some  sixty  Mexican  Protestants  have 
suffered  martyrdom.  One  of  the  most  severe  persecu- 
tions took  place  in  Acapulco,  Guerrero,  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  three  years  after  our  work  opened  in  Mexico. 
A  mob  of  several  hundred  made  a  murderous  assault 
on  the  congregation  with  machetes,  rifles  and  pistols. 
Thirteen  Protestants  were  killed  and  more  than 
twenty  seriously  injured. 

Travel — The  work  of  itinerating  in  earlj^  days  was 
very  difficult,  slow  and  wearisome;  it  was  done  en- 
tirely by  stage  or  on  horseback.  With  the  exception  of 
a  short  line  running  from  Mexico  City  to  Vera  Cruz. 
Mexico  had  no  railroad  communication  with  tlie  out- 
side world  until  1884.  There  are  now  over  20,000 
miles  of  railroads  in  Mexico,  running  from  the  Rio 
Grande  River  on  the  north  to  the  Guatemalan  border 
on  the  south.  This  improved  means  of  travel  has  in- 
creased many  fold  the  efficiency  of  the  missionary. 

13 


Tabasco  is  tlie  only  state  witliout  railroads  in  which 
we  have  Avork.  Travel  there  is  hard  and  wearisome. 
There  is  little  hope  that  it  will  be  materially  improved 
in  the  near  fntnre  for  its  immense  swamps  make  the 
building  of  railroads  difficult.  Owing  to  the  moun- 
tainous condition  of  large  sections  of  the  states  of 
Oaxaea  and  Chiapas,  itinerating  in  them  will  always 
be  arduous. 

Our  Schools  and  Dispensaries 

The  development  of  educational  work  has  been 
interrupted  during  recent  years  because  of  the  im- 
settled  conditions  in  the  country.  Most  of  the  Mis- 
sion day  schools  that  had  to  be  closed  during  revolu- 
tionary times  have  not  been  opened  for  lack  of  funds. 
The  Mission  has  a  Normal  School  for  Girls  at  San 
Angel  in  the  Federal  District,  two  other  schools  for 
girls  at  Vera  Cruz  and  Merida  and  a  primary  school 
at  Orizaba.  The  only  preparatory  school  for  boys  is 
located  at  Coyoacan,  Federal  District.  It  is  planned 
(1922)  to  open  up  another  school  for  boys  in  Oaxaea. 

The  first  medical  work  of  any  kind  to  be  undertaken 
by  the  Mission  was  the  establishment  of  the  free  medi- 
cal dispensary  for  the  poor  in  Vera  Cruz.  It  was  then 
the  only  one  in  Mexico.  The  Mexican  physician  gives 
his  services  free  to  the  clinic  and  the  wholesale  and 
retail  drug  and  commercial  firms  have  contributed 
much  of  the  medicines  and  supplies.  Over  6,000  pre- 
scriptions have  been  filled  since  the  dispensary  was 
established,  five  years  ago.  Within  the  year  1921 
other  dispensaries  have  been  organized  on  the  same 
plan,  in  Orizaba.  Tierra  Blanca,  Jalapa,  Puerto 
Mexico  and  in  Tabasco. 

14 


There  is  a  notable  ()i)i)()i'tniiity  for  a  Presbyterian 
Hospital  in  Mexico,  and  it  is  urgently  needed.  Greater 
emphasis  shonld  be  placed  upon  the  valne  of  sneh 
service  as  an  aid  in  evangelizing  Mexico. 

The  Press 

The  first  Protestant  paper  in  Mexico,  the  "Antorcha 
Evangelical "  (The  Evangelical  Torch)  was  published 
by  Rev.  H.  C.  Thomson,  D.D.,  at  Zacateeas  early  in  the 
seventies.  About  the  same  time,  tracts  and  a  hymn 
book  were  compiled  by  Rev.  M.  N.  Hutchinson,  an- 
other pioneer.  In  1883,  Rev.  J.  M.  Greene,  D.D.. 
secured  funds  and  ])ought  the  Mission  press.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1885,  the  publication  of  ''El  Faro"  (The  Light- 
house) began,  together  with  Sunday  school  lesson 
helps  and  tracts. 

In  1919  a  Union  Press  was  formed  by  the  joining 
of  the  Methodist  and  Presbyterian  plants.  The  Meth- 
odist and  Pres])yterian  papers  were  combined  also  in 
a  new  publication,  called  ''El  Mundo  Cristiano.'" 
This  paper  has  been  well  received  and  has  reached 
places  where  the  missionary  could  not  go. 

One  of  the  great  needs  today  is  the  generous  dis- 
tribution of  the  right  kind  of  tracts  and  other  litera- 
ture to  accompany  the  distribution  of  the  Bible  that 
Christian  believers  may  be  firmly  rooted  and  built  up 
and  established  in  the  faith. 

Development 

Redistrihatioii  of  I\<'.'<poitsihillty — A  conference  of 
the  various  Boards  and  missionaries  working  in 
Mexico  was  held  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1914.  At  that 
time  there  was  made  a  redistribution  of  responsil)iHty 

15 


for  the  evangelization  of  Mexico.  By  this  arrange- 
ment, the  Presbyterian  Mission  withdrew  from  north- 
ern Mexico  as  well  as  from  the  states  of  Michoacan 
and  Guerrero  on  the  west  coast,  giving  up  much  of 
our  oldest  and  best  established  work. 

[n  return  the  Presbyterian  Mission  assumed  full 
responsibility  for  the  work  in  the  entire  states  of 
Oaxaca,  Vera  Cruz,  Chiapas,  Tabasco,  Campeche, 
Yucatan  and  the  territory  of  Quitana  Roo,  retaining 
our  work  in  the  Federal  District  and  Mexico  City. 
This  means  that  our  Mission  is  responsible  for  the 
evangelization  of  about  one-fourth  of  the  people  of 
Mexico,  in  a  territory  equal  to  about  one-fifth  of  the 
total  area  of  the  Republic. 

National  Presbyterian  Church — Since  our  with- 
drawal from  northern  Mexico  an  Independent  Na- 
tional Presbytery  has  been  formed  in  that  field.  This 
Presbytery  is  under  the  Presbyterian  Synod  of 
Mexico.  Its  churches  include  those  of  northern 
Mexico  which  were  organized  by  our  Mission  and  the 
Mission  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  Mexican  Presbyterian.  Church  has  thus  become 
a  National  Church  in  northern  Mexico,  having  work 
established  in  most  of  the  large  cities.  It  is  entirely 
self-supporting  and  during  the  year  1921  raised  $45,- 
000.00  pesos  or  $22,500. 

Social  Service 

In  Mexico  City  where  liome  conditions  are  cramped 
and  crowded,  a  social  center  has  been  opened.  Here 
the  missionaries  give  the  young  people  an  attractive 
place  to  spend  the  evenings,  where  they  will  not  be 
subjected   to   temptation,   but   can    have   wliolesome 

16 


amusement,  classes  and  conferences.  A  three-story 
building  was  secured.  On  the  third  floor  is  a  large 
hall  suitable  for  meetings  or  social  gatherings  and  as 
a  gymnasium  for  boys.  There  are  also  shower  baths. 
The  other  floors  contain  small  rooms  for  special  meet- 
ings and  an  apartment  for  a  resident  Mexican  worker. 
Several  educators  and  influential  men  and  women 
gladly  give  illustrated  lectures  or  talks,  or  conduct 
conferences.  Two  or  three  miles  from  San  Pedro  is 
another  social  center  and  resident  quarters.  There 
are  English  classes  twice  a  week.  A  member  of  the 
Consulate  teaches  a  class.  This  center  contains  a  sew- 
ing machine  for  the  women,  and  while  they  sew  and 
visit  with  one  another,  the  children  play  in  a  clean, 
healthful  place.  There  are  gymnasium  classes  for 
boys. 

In  Merida  many  young  people,  whose  friendship 
and  confidence  have  been  won  through  our  institu- 
tional work,  attend  the  church  services.  The  mission- 
aries plan  to  extend  this  service  into  outlying  towns, 
establishing  reading  rooms  in  several  places  where 
there  are  Mexican  men  who  can  look  after  the  Avork, 
while  a  missionary  will  have  the  general  oversiglit. 

Wide  Spread  Evang^elism 

Our  missionaries  travel  far  and  wide  with  the 
Gospel  message.  One  of  the  most  hopeful  features  of 
the  evangelistic  work  is  the  finding  in  out-of-the-way 
places,  congregations  and  groups  of  believers,  the  re- 
sult of  personal  work  of  individual  Christians  from 
older  congregations  that  have  been  scattered  during 
revolutionary  times.  Another  encouraging  feature  is 
the  missionary  spirit  dominating  the  jiewer  congrega- 

17 


tioiis  and  their  deep  sense  of  responsibility  for  the 
evangelizing  of  their  own  people.  This  is  especially 
true  in  the  state  of  Chiapas  where  864  persons  were 
baptized  and  received  into  membership  in  1921,  In 
this  field  there  are  four  well  organized  churches. 
These  churches  have  under  their  care  more  than  60 
congregations  or  groups  of  believers.  Many  of  these 
congregations  choose  one  of  their  number  to  take 
charge  of  the  services  and  he  is  called  ''chaplain." 
The  other  congregations  or  groups  are  ministered  to 
regularly  by  native  volunteer  workers  called  "mis- 
sionaries," sent  out  from,  one  of  the  four  organized 
churches.  In  this  manner  several  hundred  persons 
are  at  present  being  instructed  and  prepared  to  be 
received  into  full  membership. 

Owing  to  the  extreme  distance  and  cost  of  sending 
workers  from  this  field  to  attend  the  Union  Seminary 
in  Mexico  City,  plans  are  being  made  for  holding  Bible 
Training  Conferences  at  various  centers  on  the  field 
for  the  training  of  lay  workers.  A  like  condition  in 
regard  to  distance  from  Mexico  City  prevails  in  Yuca- 
tan and  plans  are  being  made  there  also  for  the  train- 
ing of  workers  on  the  field. 

The  Mexicans  as  a  people  are  very  fond  of  music 
and  a  feature  in  Protestant  worship  that  has  proved 
especially  attractive  to  them  is  singing.  Protestant 
hymns  are  eagerly  learned  and  given  an  important 
place  in  their  lives.  During  the  missionary's  visit 
the  congregation  is  taught  new  songs  and  these  are 
most  fervently  and  joyously  sung  over  and  over  until 
his  next  visit.  These  songs  become  a  sustaining  influ- 
ence and  a  means  of  expression  in  the  religious  life 
of  the  people. 

18 


A  Unique  Responsibility 

The  political  and  ccoiioniie  relations  between  Mexico 
and  the  United  States  are  of  unique  importance  today. 

They  are  unique,  in  the  first  place,  because  with 
one  exception,  Mexico  is  the  one  foreign  country 
nearest  to  our  own  nation.  Her  boundaries  are  con- 
tiguous with  ours ;  only  a  river  and  an  imaginary  line 
separate  the  two  lands.  She  is,  on  the  South,  our 
nearest  neighbor;  her  interests  and  ours  are  inex- 
tricably intertwined.  Between  the  two  nations  exist 
all  the  opportunities  and  responsibilities  of  such  close 
neighborhood. 

In  the  second  place,  America,  by  reason  of  the  ]\Ion- 
roe  Doctrine,  has  a  unique  relationship  with  Mexico. 
No  other  nation  can  come  into  such  close  relationship 
with  her  as  can  our  country.  There  is  therefore  an 
added  and  single  responsibility  of  service  upon  our 
government  and  people  in  whicli  no  other  country  can 
share. 

Finally,  in  our  relations  with  Mexico  is  to  be  found 
the  touchstone  of  our  relations  with  other  lands  all 
over  the  world.  Our  Mexican  policy  is  really  the  test 
of  our  entire  foreign  policy :  whether  it  is  to  be  a 
policy  of  imperialism,  either  economic  or  military,  or 
a  policy  of  democratic  and  disinterested  service.  We 
cannot  win  the  friendship  of  Latin  America  unless 
we  win  first  the  good-will  and  trust  of  Mexico.  There 
are  other  ramifications  of  this  policy  that  affect  inter- 
national attitudes  not  only  to  the  south  of  us  but  also 
in  the  East  and  in  the  West.  In  this  sense,  what 
America  does,  politically  and  economically,  in  Mexico 
takes  on  world-wide  meaning  and  significance. 

19 


What  is  true  in  the  political  and  economic  world  is 
even  more  trne  in  the  world  of  Christian  service, 
connoted  by  the  term  "Foreign  Missions."  The  field 
of  foreign  missions  is  the  world;  but  the  Founder  of 
this  world  crusade  in  precept  and  parable  placed  first 
the  duty  of  service  to  one's  neighbor.  Missionaries 
go  to  the  Far  East  and  to  the  Far  South,  and  to 
Africa  and  to  India :  they  cross  the  Atlantic  and  the 
Pacific:  let  them  look  also  towards  the  "Near  South," 
and  let  them  cross  the  Rio  Grande  for  Christ's  sake. 

Unescapable  Duty 

Just  as  the  United  States  has  a  unique  obliga- 
tion for  service  in  Mexico  because  of  an  established 
national  policy,  so  has  the  Presbyterian  Church,  by 
an  announced  program,  an  unescapable  duty  in  that 
land.  Eight  years  ago,  by  agreement  with  the  other 
Church  Boards,  the  Presbyterian  Church  definitely 
committed  itself  to  the  task  of  education  and  evan- 
gelization in  seven  Mexican  States,  a  work  in  which 
no  other  Church  should  share.  If  the  work  is  to  be 
done  in  those  States,  it  must  be  done  by  the  Presby- 
terian Church  alone. 

P^inally,  there  is  involved  in  the  relations  of  the 
two  lands  the  larger  principle  of  all  foreign  mission 
eflfort,  that  has  been  phrased  as  "the  bringing  to  bear 
on  all  human  life  the  spirit  and  principles  of  Christ." 
Such  an  ideal  involves  nations  as  well  as  individuals. 
From  this  double  standpoint  of  individual  and  na- 
tional need  and  opportunity,  and  from  the  larger 
viewpoint  of  its  strategic  relationship  to  the  world 
campaign  of  the  Church,  the  work  in  Mexico  offers  its 
appealing  challenge  today. 

20 


Note.  For  most  recent  statistics  of  the  Mexico 
Mission  consult  the  current  Annual  Report  of  the 
Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 

A  Pen  Picture  of  each  Station  of  the  Mexico  Mis- 
sion describing  the  work  in  detail  can  be  secured  at 
five  cents  per  copy  from  the  Department  for  Specific 
Work,  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  or 
from  the  Woman's  Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  156 
Fifth  Avenue,  New  York  City. 


ftfarch,    1922. 


21 


Pen  Picture 

of  the 

Guatemala  Mission 

Established— 1882. 

Stations  in  Order  of  Founding 

Guatemala  City .  1882  Quezaltenango  .  .  1898 

Outstanding  Features 

A  neglected  but  strategic  field  which  is  prac- 
tically our  Presbyterian  responsibility  alone. 

A  country  with  varied  altitude,  precipitation, 
temperature  and  climate. 

Fertile  soil,  yielding  almost  all  the  products 
of  the  temperate  and  tropical  zones. 

Mineral  wealth  only  slightly  developed. 

Two  principal  races, — the  Indian  and  the 
Ladino,  a  mixture  of  the  Spanish  and  Indian. 

Religion, — Roman    Catholic. 

Large  percentage  of  illiteracy  and  illegitimacy; 
prevalence  of  drunkenness  and  crime. 

In  1851  Guatemala  became  an  independent 
republic. 

In  1871  Church  and  State  were  separated. 

In  1917  Guatemala  City  was  wrecked  by  an 
earthquake ;  since  rebuilt. 

In  1920  a  change  of  government  brought  a 
brighter  outlook  for  the  people. 

22 


Wide  intlueiice  of  the  Mission  press. 

Importance  of  spreading  the  Gospel  among  the 
Indians. 

A  preeminent  need — education  for  boys. 

The  period  of  seed-sowing  is  over;  the  harvest 
is  waiting  for  workers,  both  native  and  foreign, 
for  the  ingathering. 

Other  Protestant  Bodies  Operating-  in  this  Field 

American  Bible  Society;  Central  American 
Mission. 

Location,  Size  and  Population 

Guatemala  is  in  Central  America,  nortli  of 
Panama  and  just  south  of  Mexico.  The  inter- 
section of  the  meridian  that  runs  through  St. 
Louis  and  Ncav  Orleans  with  the  15th  degree  of 
north  latitude  is  not  far  from  the  territorial 
center. 

Guatemala  has  an  area  of  40,777  square  miles 
and  is  approximately  the  size  of  the  New  England 
States,  with  a  population  of  2,225,000  or  eight 
times  as  many  people  as  are  in  Kansas  City,  and 
almost  as  many  as  are  congested  in  Chicago.  It 
is  religiously,  culturally  and  now  politically  one 
with  all  of  Central  America. 

Geography  and  Climate 

Guatemala  extends  from  ocean  to  ocean.  Its 
watershed  is  the  Rocky- Andes  system,  reaching  at 
places  12.000  feet  in  elevation.  This  watershed 
runs  northwest  to  southeast  parallel  to  the  Pacific 
shore  and  separated   from   it  by  a  strip  of  low 

23 


but  very  fertile  coast  land  from  twenty  to  fifty 
miles  wide.  The  longer  Atlantic  slope  is  broken 
by  rugged  spurs,  stretching  eastward  in  some 
cases  to  the  very  shore.  The  interior  is  a  suc- 
cession of  mountains  and  valleys.  Rivers  and 
streams  are  numerous;  those  on  the  western  side 
are  shorter,  owing  to  the  abrupt  descent.  In  the 
rainy  season  they  are  dashing  torrents,  and  add 
.  much  to  the  diversity  of  the  landscape. 

Guatemala  is  one  of  the  most  varied  countries 
in  the  world.  It  varies  in  altitude  from  sea  level 
to  12.000  feet ;  in  precipitation  from  rainless 
desert  to  perpetual  rain ;  in  temperature  from 
year-long  tropical  summer  to  a  cold  demanding 
four  blankets  every  night  in  the  year.  As  regards 
vegetation  it  has  also  a  wide  range. 

Products 

The  soil  of  Guatemala  is  largely  of  volcanic 
origin  and  almost  everywhere  is  fertile,  yielding 
products  that  vary  greatly  according  to  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  land  above  sea  level.  Almost  all  prod- 
ucts of  the  temperate  or  tropical  zones  may  be 
grown  within  the  borders  of  the  country;  cocoa 
on  the  Pacific  coast  zone,  bananas,  logwood  and 
mahogany  on  the  Gulf  shores;  wheat,  potatoes 
and  all  kinds  of  sub-tropical  fruits  and  vegetables 
in  various  parts  of  the  temperate  regions.  The 
low  lying  plains  are  clothed,  especially  on  the 
Atlantic  side,  with  a  luxuriant  vegetation,  having 
all  the  characteristics  of  the  tropical  American 
woodlands.  As  in  Mexico,  maize  is  everywhere 
grown,  yielding  one  crop  annually  in  the  tem- 

24 


perate  and  cold  zones,  and  two  and  even  three  in 
the  hot  coast  district.  Sugar-cane  flourishes  to 
an  altitude  of  about  5,000  feet,  which  is  nearly 
the  extreme  limit  of  coffee  culture;  and  cacao, 
properly  a  tropical  plant,  no  higher  than  1,600 
feet.  Wheat,  on  the  other  hand,  thrives  on  the 
uplands  above  5,500  feet.  In  the  lowlands  and 
slopes  somewhat  higher,  cotton,  bananas  and  indi- 
go are  cultivated,  although  not  in  large  quantities. 
The  coffee  plantations  are  situated  chiefly  on  the 
lower  slopes  of  the  volcanic  range  facing  the 
Pacific.  This  long  tract  of  country  is  remarkable 
for  its  scenery,  fertile  soil  and  relatively  dry  and 
pleasant  air.  Many  foreigners  have  settled  in 
this  region  and  have  invested  much  capital  in  the 
coffee  industry. 

Among  the  forest  growths  of  Guatemala  are 
the  mahogany  and  palm  of  the  lowlands,  and 
the  pines  and  oaks  of  the  uplands.  Among  the 
more  costlj^  woods  are  the  cedar,  a  species  of 
palisander  (the  so-called  rosewood)  and  the 
palmolatla,  a  close-grained  yellow  wood  streaked 
with  grey  and  brown  veins. 

Industries 

The  principal  industries  are  native  weaving, 
cattle-raising,  the  growing  of  coffee,  cereals  and 
tobacco,  and  in  some  cases  mining  and  small 
manufacturing.  There  is  in  Guatemala  water 
power  for  future  manufacturing  and  considerable 
undeveloped  mineral  wealth.  Gold,  silver,  lead, 
tin,  copper,  mercury,  salt,  sulphur,  antimony  and 
coal  are  all  found,  but  it  has  to  be  demonstrated 
that  they  arc  commercially  exploitable. 

25 


Commerce 

While  the  exports  are  varied,  the  chief  articles 
are  coffee,  bananas,  mahogany  and  rubber.  The 
United  Fruit  Company  lias  a  plantation  60  miles 
long  by  8  miles  wide,  from  which  it  ships  9,000,- 
000  bunches  of  bananas  annually.  If  cultivated 
to  the  full  extent  it  would  produce  50,000,000 
bunches.  Just  previous  to  the  war  the  coffee  pro- 
duction reached  1,177,298  (juintals,  a  quintal 
being  the  equivalent  of  a  hundred  weight.  The 
gross  value  of  the  exports  amounted  to  $14,500,- 
000  and  of  the  imports  to  over  $10,000,000,  more 
than  $5,000,000  coming  from  the  United  States. 

Races 

There  are  two  principal  races,  the  Indian  or 
aboriginal,  and  the  Ladino  or  mixture  of  Spanish 
and  Indian  which  though  less  numerous  than  the 
Indian,  has  inherited  the  wealth,  power  and  social 
standing  of  tlie  Spanish  conquerors  and  lords  it 
over  the  subject  Indian.  There  are  also  repre- 
sentatives of  many  other  nations,  the  Spaniards, 
Germans  and  Chinese  predominating.  The 
Indian  is  respectful,  law-abiding,  capable  and 
relatively  chaste.  In  the  department  of  Guate- 
mala City,  the  Ladinos  register  a  67%  illegiti- 
macy; the  Indians  register  28%. 

Religion 

Roman  Catholicism  is  and  has  been  the  one 
chief  religion.  The  conversion  of  the  Indians  to 
Roman  Catholicism  consisted  in  great  part  in  sub- 
mission to  the  ecclesiastical  control  of  Rome  and 

26 


having  their  old  beliefs  and  practices  designated 
by  Christian  names.  As  in  Mexico,  so  in  Guate- 
mala, Romanism  has  sunk  even  lower  than  the 
people  whom  it  has  degraded.  The  result  is  that 
they  have  lost  confidence  in  their  Church.  Noth- 
ing is  done  to  supply  the  spiritual  void  and  it  is 
assumed  that  a  purely  secular  education  is  the 
only  need  of  the  country.  Hence,  educated  people 
are  drifting  into  all  forms  of  infidelity,  while  the 
condition  of  the  people  at  large  is  that  of  gross 
ignorance  of  true  spiritual  Christianity. 

Social  Conditions 

Roman  Catholicism  crushed  out  the  middle 
class  after  it  got  complete  control,  leaving  the 
ecclesiastical  class  and  their  relatives  wealthy  and 
the  rest  of  the  people  pauperized.  Since  the 
separation  of  Church  and  State  in  1871,  a  middle 
class  has  been  slowly  forming.  The  Church  of 
Rome  after  400  years  of  absolute  control  left  an 
illiterate  population.  After  fifty  years  of  public 
schools  and  compulsory  education  under  the 
"free  thinkers"  the  illiteracy  has  been  only 
slightly  reduced.  The  bad  showing  of  the  Roman 
Church  is  due  to  the  policy  and  the  drift  of  the 
system,  and  that  of  the  Jjiberals  is  due  to  weakness 
of  the  moral  factor. 

Drunkenness  and  crime  prevail.  In  1913.  the 
government  issued  56,200  saloon  licenses,  that  is, 
one  for  every  36  inhabitants  counting  men. 
women  and  children,  for  all  drink.  Family 
morals  are  in  a  bad  condition.  As  the  people  do 
not  fight  with  their  fists  but  witli  the  deadliest 

27 


weapons  they  can  eominaiid,  crime  statistics  run 
enormously  high.  ()u  one  occasion,  while  some 
of  the  missionaries  were  at  church  on  Sunday 
morning,  five  murders  occurred  in  their  ward  in 
the  Capital  City,  and  in  the  entire  city  the  known 
record  reached  twenty-one  that  same  day.  As 
to  labor,  the  peonage  system  prevails,  and  for 
unskilled  labor  the  wage  is  from  three-fourths  of 
a  cent  a  day  to  fifteen  cents.  As  people  can 
neither  be  starved  nor  frozen  in  this  warm  fruit 
laden  country,  wages  drop  to  the  irreducible 
minimum. 

History  of  Guatemala 

XN  1502  Columbus  discovered  the  coast  of  this 
region.  The  countrj^  was  made  a  Spanish 
dependency  in  1524  and  was  erected  into  a  captain- 
generalcy  in  1527  by  Charles  V.  In  1821  Guatemala 
threw  off  the  yoke  of  Spain  and  in  1823  became  a 
part  of  the  Central  American  Federal  Republic.  In 
1839  the  territory  of  the  latter  was  diminished  by 
the  secession  of  Honduras  and  in  1847  Guatemala 
separated  from  the  confederation  as  an  indei)endent 
republic. 

In  the  year  1871  Church  and  State  were  separated 
in  Guatemala  and  a  new  era  of  freedom  began.  This 
was  one  of  the  most  decisive  and  far  reaching 
changes  that  had  ever  taken  place  in  the  history  of 
Latin  America.  A  new  spirit  manifested  itself 
among  the  people.  The  rule  or  domination  of  the 
clergy  was  overthrown  and  a  liberal  government  was 
established.  When  the  Liberal  Party  came  into 
power  in  1871  many  remarkable  changes  took  place. 

28 


Two  years  later,  by  proclamation  of  President 
Barrios,  religious  liberty  was  guaranteed  to  all,  and 
during  his  administi'ation  trade  and  general  pros- 
perity greatl}^  increased.  In  1884  Avar  broke  out 
between  Guatemala  and  San  Salvador,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  decree  from  President  Barrios  for  the 
union  of  all  Central  American  states.  At  the  outset 
of  the  conflict  the  President  was  killed.  His  suc- 
cessors to  some  extent  pursued  his  enlightened 
polic}'.  In  1890  war  was  again  declared  against  San 
Salvador,  but  after  a  few  months  of  active  hostilities, 
peace  was  proclaimed. 

Political  Dominance 

From  1900-1920  a  former  president  became  to  all 
intents  and  purposes  a  dictator.  In  1920  the  people 
commenced  to  assert  themselves  in  accordance  with 
the  rights  of  any  free  people.  This  was  done  in  the 
press  and  in  public  addresses.  Many  of  those  taking 
the  lead  in  this  movement  were  cast  into  prison  and 
held  without  lawful  accusation  or  just  trial.  Even 
with  this  provocation  there  was  no  uprising. 

On  the  11th  of  March,  1920,  some  25,000  people 
marched  through  the  streets  to  the  place  where  the 
national  congress  was  in  session  in  order  to  protest 
against  the  p»assing  of  certain  laws  that  had  for 
their  purpose  the  suppression  of  free  speech  and  of 
a  free  press.  These  people  went  unarmed  and  Avith- 
out  shouts  or  threats  and  the  whole  conduct  of  the 
procession  was  orderly.  The  police  or  soldiers  tired 
on  these  innocent  people,  but  even  then  they  main- 
tained their  peaceful  bearing. 

A  complete  change  of  government  has  brought  a 
new  regime.    A  new  spirit  animates  the  people  and 

29 


the  outlook  is  bright.  The  very  discussions  that  liave 
taken  place  in  speech  and  press  have  developed  a 
new  character  among  the  people.  It  is  significant 
that  when  political  tyranny  had  become  unendur- 
able, the  people  of  Guatemala  arose,  almost  as  one 
man,  and  brought  about  a  change  of  government 
that  is  quietly  establishing  itself  in  a  way  that  calls 
for  marked  commendation.  The  struggle  has  been 
in  favor  of  true  freedom.  Personal  and  selfish 
motives  have  not  been  controlling  the  new  govern- 
ment. 

Mission  Development 

In  1871  the  Roman  Catholics  themselves,  in  what 
is  known  as  the  "Liberal  Revolution,"  rebelled 
against  and  despoiled  their  Church.  Later,  in  1882, 
President  Barrios,  when  on  a  visit  to  the  United 
States,  invited  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign 
]\Iissions  to  send  its  missionaries  to  Guatemala. 

In  the  same  year  the  Guatemala  Mission  was 
founded  in  Guatemala  City,  the  capital.  The  Rev. 
John  C.  Hill  and  Mrs.  Hill  were  the  first  missionaries 
appointed  and  their  travelling  expenses  to  Guate- 
nuila  were  paid  by  President  Barrios.  He  also  pro- 
vided them  a  dwelling  house.  The  plan  adopted  was 
to  gather  an  English-speaking  congregation  and 
organize  a  Protestant  Church.  Services  Avere  held 
for  a  time  in  private  residences,  with  an  increased 
attendance  from  week  to  Aveek.  A  house  near  the 
center  of  the  city  was  rented  and  by  April,  1883,  the 
ncAV  missionaries  Avere  fulh'  established.  A  Sunday 
school  Avas  organized  and  attended  by  the  children 
of  the  President  and  others  in  high  positions.  By 
Ihe  close  of  the  year  the  ncAV  chapel  Avas  filled.   Both 

30 


Enj^lisli  and  Si)aiiisli  services  were  maintained  until 
Mr.  Hill's  resignation  in  1886.  His  place  was  filled 
the  next  year  by  the  Rev.  E.  M.  Haymaker.  A  chapel 
was  built  and  dedicated  in  1891,  with  many  marks 
of  approval  from  the  President  and  the  authorities. 
Two  churches  were  organized  in  1892,  one  of  Span- 
ish-speaking and  the  other  of  English-speaking 
people.  In  1894  the  English  Church  became  inde- 
pendent. In  1902  Mr.  Haymaker's  health  failed; 
this  led  him  to  resign.  Rev.  William  B.  Allison 
and  Mrs.  Allison  and  Rev.  Walter  E.  McBath  Avent 
out  in  1903.  In  1889  the  first  Spanish  evangelical 
paper  of  Central  America  was  founded,  '^El  Mensa- 
jrro."  A  mixed  school  was  established  in  1883  and 
was  suspended  in  1889,  while  in  1888  a  boys'  school 
was  started  which  was  closed  at  a  later  date.  A 
girls'  school  Avas  organized  in  1884,  but  closed  in 
1891.  At  the  beginning  of  1913  another  school  for 
girls  was  opened  in  a  fine  new  building.  Medical 
Avork  Avas  started  in  1906  and  in  1913  the  hospital 
was  opened.  In  connection  Avith  the  hospital  there 
is  a  training  school  for  nurses. 

In  1917  the  entire  plant  of  missioii  buildings  in 
Guatemala  Cit}^  Avas  Avrecked  by  six  severe  earth- 
quake shocks,  the  last  one  occurring  January  28th, 
1918.  In  the  same  year  the  missionary  residence 
and  printing  house  Avere  rebuilt  and  a  ncAV  residence 
constructed.  In  1921  the  church,  girls'  school  and 
hospital  Avere  replaced  and  the  plant  is  uoav  ready 
for  progress. 

Quezalteiiango  (Green-featlier-town),  the  second 
city  of  Guatenuila,  Avas  first  occupied  as  a  Station  in 
1898  by  Rev.  and  Mrs.  W.  F.  Gates,  although  more 

31 


or  less  desultory  work  had  been  done  there  previ- 
ously. In  1903  a  chapel  and  parsonage  were  built 
after  the  purchase  of  a  lot,  b}^  the  gifts  of  the  people 
themselves.  Later  another  lot  was  purchased  by  the 
Board  in  a  more  central  location  and  a  commodious 
chapel,  reading  room  and  manse  erected.  The  chapel 
has  since  been  enlarged  to  an  imposing  church  by 
native  contribution.  In  April,  1902,  the  town  was 
nearly  destroyed  by  an  earthquake  with  great  loss 
of  life  and  propert.y.  A  terrific  volcanic  eruption 
followed  in  October,  which  ruined  the  rich  farms 
and  plantations  around  the  city.  These  calamities, 
with  the  resulting  distress  and  prostration  of  business 
for  a  time  interrupted  all  progress.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gates  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health.  The  girls' 
school  which  had  been  temporarily  transferred  from 
Guatemala  City  to  Quezaltenango  did  such  excellent 
work  that  the  Board  saw  the  wisdom  of  continuing  it, 
but  adapting  it  rather  to  meet  the  needs  of  the 
Indians,  while  the  school  in  the  capital  cares  for  the 
Ladinos.  The  two  races  cannot  be  educated  together 
with  the  best  results. 

The  Indians  of  Guatemala 
When  the  Spaniards  under  their  intrepid  leader, 
Hernando  Cortex,  came  to  Mexico  and  Central 
America,  they  found  a  civilization  not  far  inferior 
to  that  which  they  had  known  in  Europe.  The 
Spanish  conquerors  destroyed  completely  the  political 
institutions  of  the  Indians,  reducing  them  to  slavery 
or  handing  them  over  to  some  Spanish  grandee  to  be 
mercilessly  exploited.  The  efforts  of  the  Spaniards 
were  directed  with  equal  zeal  against  the  religious 
institutions  and  practices  of  the  Indians.     The  sud- 

32 


den  destruction  of  their  gods  and  the  uprooting  of 
their  political  and  social  life  with  the  abject  slavery 
which  lowered  them  to  the  level  of  beasts  of  burden, 
broke  the  spirit  of  the  Indian  peoples. 

Today  they  still  exist  as  a  racial  entity.  Tliey 
have  survived  the  slavery  to  which  they  submitted 
and  the  peonage  system  which  grew  out  of  this  slavery. 
They  have  taken  over  many  of  the  arts  and  trades  of 
their  conquerors  and  have  utilized  the  domestic 
animals  the  latter  brought  with  them.  They  have 
accepted  outwardly  the  religion  of  their  conquerors 
and  yet  their  civilization  is  still  as  distinctly  their 
own  as  on  the  day  the  Spaniards  first  landed  in  Vera 
Cruz.  Their  languages  have  survived  and  so  have 
their  customs,  costumes  and  religion.  The  Indians 
of  today  can  not  be  justly  be  called  Roman  Catholic 
and  much  less  Christians.  They  have  no  idea  of  even 
the  simplest  essentials  of  Christianity.  AYhen  the 
Indians  hear  the  Protestant  message  of  the  Gospel  for 
the  first  time  they  are  impressed  by  the  thought  of 
the  omnipresence  of  God  and  His  loving  care  for  His 
children.  This  idea  they  have  never  grasped  until 
they  are  instructed  by  Protestant  missionaries.  Con- 
verted Indians  exclaim  over  and  again  in  wonder 
when  they  realize  that  God  is  actually  with  them 
everywhere  they  go. 

A  small  beginning  has  been  made  in  giving  the 
Gospel  to  the  Indians,  evangelical  congregations  are 
multiplying  and  native  Indian  evangelists  are  rising 
up  to  preach  to  their  people  in  their  own  tongue. 
Such  success  as  has  already  been  attained  is  largely 
due  to  one  or  another,  or  a  combination  of  three  fac- 
tors.   First, — the  Liberal  government  is  making  every 

33 


effort  to  toac'h  the  liuliaiis  Spauisli.  The  few  who 
learn  it  ean  read  the  Bible  and  other  evangelical 
literature  and  then  translate  it  into  tlie  language  of 
their  people.  In  this  way  the  lack  of  literature  in  the 
native  languages  is  to  an  extent  overcome.  Second, — 
The  peonage  system,  although  it  has  not  destroyed 
the  Indian  communities,  has  stolen  thousands  of  their 
best  sons  from  them.  They  are  practically  slaves  on 
the  coffee  and  sugar  plantations,  where  the  restric- 
tions of  the  villages  are  largely  broken  down.  There 
the  Indian  must  work  with  and  for  people  of  other 
modes  of  thinking  and  acting.  He  often  hears  the 
Gospel  and  then  tells  his  people  about  it  when  he 
goes  home  on  a  visit  or  when  his  free  relatives  come 
to  visit  him.  Third, — The  government  is  forcing  the 
well-to-do  Indians,  whom  peonage  does  not  touch,  into 
military  service.  Here  too  they  are  pushed  out  of 
their  narrow  local  circle  and  come  into  contact  with 
other  people,  and  as  there  is  hardly  a  garrison  with- 
out at  least  one  zealous  evangelical  in  it,  they  hear 
the  Gospel.  Evangelical  Christianity  when  once  ac- 
cepted by  the  Indian  is  followed  most  heartily.  Idols 
are  thrown  away,  vice  is  renounced  and  wonderful 
zeal  is  manifested. 

Probably  nowhere  on  the  globe  is  a  general  uplift 
work  more  needed  than  among  the  Guatemala  Indians. 
Their  unspeakable  living  conditions,  their  squalor, 
high  mortality,  the  lack  of  sanitation  and  their  gen- 
eral hopelessness  call  for  a  broad  work  such  as  neither 
the  government  nor  any  other  factor  in  the  field  can 
give,  save  Evangelical  Protestant  Christianity.  The 
evangelizing  and  general  uplift  work  of  our  Mission 
should  be  steadily  pushed. 

34 


A  Period  of  Harvest 

The  Guatemala  Mission  lias  now  passed  tlii-ough 
the  period  of  seed  sowing  and  through  the  long  and 
trying  time  of  waiting,  and  by  perseverance  in  spite 
of  discouragement  and  obstacles,  has  entered  the 
period  of  overwhelming  harvest.  Encouraging  de- 
velopments are  now  appearing  on  every  hand  ;  in  self- 
government,  self-support  and  self-propagation.  The 
first  missionaries  had  no  following,  but  there  are  now 
(1922)  over  20,000  Evangelicals  in  the  Republic  :  there 
were  no  congregations,  now  there  are  more  than  .500. 
At  the  beginning  the  missionaries  had  to  walk  the 
street  of  the  capital  protected  by  armed  guards  agaiiist 
a  threatening  fanaticism;  now  even  in  the  villages  it 
is  hard  to  find  a  fanatic  who  will  throw  a  brick  or 
utter  a  malediction.  Advertisements  for  help  not  in- 
frequently end  with  ''A  Protestant  preferred."  A 
brewery  latel.y  requested  the  Protestants  to  find  them 
an  employee  from  their  number  because  they  "•wanted 
a  man  who  would  not  drink''! 

Why  Invest  in  Guatemala? 

As  an  attractive  missionary  investment  with  gilt 
edged  securities,  Guatemala  can  compete  with  any 
field  in  the  world. 

1.  It  is  preeminently  our  responsibility.  If  we 
do  not  attend  to  it,  nobody  will. 

2.  In  ignorance,  superstition,  and  deep  spiritual 
night  it  makes  a  strong  appeal  to  the  Church. 

3.  It  is  an  overlooked  field  and  is  so  near  to  us 
that  we  fail  to  see  it. 

4.  It  is  strategic.  Guatemala  has  always  deter- 
mined the  religion,  politics  and  culture  of  Central 

35 


America  and  now  Central  America  with  the  Panama 
Canal  in  operation  is  bound  to  have  immense  influence 
on  all  Latin  America. 

Note.  For  most  recent  statistics  of  the  Guatemala 
Mission  consult  the  current  Annual  Report  of  the 
Foreign  Board. 


March,    1922. 


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